Congress Nears Deal Pushing Shutdown Deadline to Just Before Christmas

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Congress and the White House are working on a deal for a two-week extension of government funding that would push the deadline for a fight over a possible government shutdown and money for President Trump’s border wall until December 21. The current spending agreement expires on Friday.

The death of President George H.W. Bush means that Washington will be focused on ceremonies honoring him this week, prompting the House to cancel all votes for the week and the Senate to postpone them until after the funeral on Wednesday.

A meeting scheduled for Tuesday between President Trump and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was canceled, and the Democratic leaders have requested a new meeting on December 11, Politico said.

President Trump said he would probably go along with a short-term funding extension, and Roll Call notes that such an extension can be passed quickly by voice vote. Six of the seven appropriations bills are ready to go, Politico said, with funding for the border remaining as the last hurdle to clear.